DDT Get Alive 2022 - 12/10/2022
KO-D Tag Team Title Match: Harimao (Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura) (c) vs. DAMNATION T.A (Daisuke Sasaki & KANON)
DAMNATION right away went into their heel tactics, double teaming Higuchi early on and using the chair on the wrist, giving Higuchi, the largest guy in the match (and current KO-D Openweight champion) a handicap for them to exploit. KANON and Sasaki both do Money Clip (Kazuchika Okada’s move) which amuses me, but focus on the wrist more than the arm in general. KANON, who comes from the K-DOJO/JTO Dojo, comes off great as a character to me. He projects a lot of arrogance and aggression, also doing so in his wrestling, especially against Yoshimura, who has been established as his rival judging from their interactions in this match. There is a feeling of needing to best the other. The tide looked to be turning when Sasaki came in and did his tricks to take the ref out of the equation, leading to DAMNATION T.A interfering, but Harimao dealt with it well with some smart team work. Higuchi continues to favour the arm, working with the wounded “giant” role, something that KANON takes advantage of while he was being set up for a chokeslam. Sasaki is also able to apply his crossface submission for a strong false finish, followed by another from KANON, who applies a ZSJ-esc type abdominal stretch that targets the arms too. Higuchi is in big trouble against KANON and barely escapes with a buchikami and a chokeslam to win. Great ending. KANON looked like a real prospect and Higuchi showed his range with his selling and more sympathetic and vulnerable role in the match. But Higuchi’s night isn’t done…. ***3/4
KO-D Openweight Title Match: Kazusada Higuchi (c) vs. Shinya Aoki
Some of DDT’s best booking and angles come from the Anywhere/Anytime contracts that perfectly mirror WWE’s MITB stips. Just after Higuchi had a gruelling match, from which he barely escaped with victory and with a very hurt arm, he now has to face JMMA Legend, Shinya Aoki, who is known for an arm-breaker or two. Higuchi even struggled to lock up for a roman knuckle lock before Aoki decided to tie him up with a chicken wing, almost getting a pin in the process. Aoki is patient but calculating, using any method to attack Higuchi’s arm. Higuchi’s selling was great; not just the arm but his selling of Aoki’s kicks to the chest as well. Higuchi brings out an impressive Gotch Lift to counter the short-arm scissors. Higuchi and Aoki go into a brief strike exchange with Higuchi having to overcome the arm injury to hit an effective strike but he then is locked into a Fujiwara Armbar while trying for a gutwrench suplex. Aoki hits a king kong knee drop followed by the manji gatame, even dropping Higuchi to the floor. Huguchi just makes the ropes and mounts his comeback with a claw hold chokeslam (that counters an arm triangle attempt). Aoki is rocked and Higuchi seals to deal with a stiff headbutt to retain! This was a great use of Shinya Aoki’s strengths, showing that he is useful outside of working technical wrestling clinics with HARASHIMA. Plus Higuchi proves his worth with another great performance. ***3/4
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